Dahlia plant named ‘LOMDAHBAW’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Dahlia  cultivar named ‘LOMDAHBAW’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive white flowers, compact, well branched plants producing many flowers and flowering within 10 weeks of planting a rooted cutting. The new variety is a  Dahlia , normally produced as an outdoor ornamental plant for containers or gardens.

Latin name of the genus and species: Dahlia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘LOMDAHBAW’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was discovered as a result of a planned breeding program directed by the inventor, Henry Lommerse a citizen of the Netherlands. The parent is an undistributed, unpatented proprietary variety Dahlia hybrid ‘25071’ and the pollen parent is the undistributed, unpatented proprietary variety Dahlia hybrid ‘23868.’ The new variety was discovered as a seedling in August 2006, by the inventor in a commercial research greenhouse in Mariahout, the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘LOMDAHBAW’ by vegetative cuttings was first performed in 2008, at a research greenhouse in Mariahout, the Netherlands. Multiple generations have since been produced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘LOMDAHBAW’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘LOMDAHBAW’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘LOMDAHBAW’ as a new and distinct Dahlia cultivar:

-   -   1. Full, white inflorescence.     -   2. Compact plant habit.     -   3. Floriferous habit.     -   4. Flowering within 10 weeks from planting a rooted cutting.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOMDAHBAW’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Dahlia hybrid ‘25071’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘LOMDAHBAW’ produce larger flowers and more flowers than ‘25071’. Additionally, the new cultivar grows faster and produces a stronger plant than the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOMDAHBAW’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, Dahlia hybrid ‘23868’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘LOMDAHBAW’ produce more flowers with a brighter white coloration.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘LOMDAHBAW’ can be compared to the commercial variety Dahlia hybrida ‘Dalina Maxi Lopez’ unpatented. The two varieties are similar in many horticultural characteristics, including having a similar flower color. However, plants of ‘LOMDAHBAW’ are more compact, and form a more dense, full plant. Additionally plants of ‘LOMDAHBAW’ begin flowering earlier from a rooted cutting than ‘Maxi Lopez’.

The new variety can also be compared to the commercial variety Dahlia hybrida, ‘Fidahhypwhi’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,256. Dahlia ‘LOMDAHBAW’ and Dahlia ‘Fidahhypwhi’ are similar in many horticultural characteristics, including a similar flower color. However, plants of ‘LOMDAHBAW’ are more vigorous, and produce more flowers and branches per plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘LOMDAHBAW” grown in a outdoors, in Mariahout, the Netherlands, in a commercial 20 cm container.

Age of the plant photographed is approximately 70 days from a rooted cutting.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘LOMDAHBAW’ plants grown outdoors, in the ground during the Summer months in Mariahout, the Netherlands. The growing temperature ranged from 16° C. to 27° C. daytime and 16° to 18° C. at night. One treatment of the growth regulator daminozide 85% at a rate of approximately 0.1%, was applied at approximately 2 weeks after planting the rooted cutting. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrid ‘LOMDAHBAW.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots:     -   -   Summer.—13-15 days days at approximately 20-18 (day-night) °             C.         -   Winter.—19-23 days at approximately 18-16 (day-night) ° C. -   Root description: Fibrous. -   Tuber description:     -   -   Average length.—10.9 cm, average thickness: 1.0 cm, Coloured             near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161D. -   Propagation method: Vegetative cuttings.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: 70 days from a rooted cutting. -   Growth habit: Broad inverted triangular, broad upright. -   Pot size of plant described: Field grown. -   Height: Approximately 43.4 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 57.5 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics:     -   -   Length of primary lateral branches.—Approximately 32.6 cm.         -   Quantity of lateral branches.—Approximately 45. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.         -   Texture.—Smooth, moderately glossy.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong. -   Internode length: Average 4.4 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single to cleft in three lobes, opposite.         -   Shape.—Overall shape ovate.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 14 pairs per branch.         -   Average overall length.—Approximately 9.7 cm.         -   Average overall width.—Approximately 7.5 cm.         -   Individual leaf blades.—Shape of blade: Ovate. Apex:             Apiculate. Base: Acuminate. Margin: Coarsely serrate.             Appearance of surfaces: Matte. Pubescence: No leaf             pubescence on upper side; under side and margins sparsely             pubescent, average length of hairs: 0.2 mm, colored             green-white, too small to be measured with R.H.S.-Colour             Chart. Attachment Angle: Leaves placed in an average angle             of 40° to lateral branch Color: Young foliage upper side:             Near RHS Green N137C. Young foliage under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 147B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS             Green137A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green             148B. Venation: Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side:             Near RHS Green 143A. Venation color under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 146B. Petiole: Length: 2.7 cm. Diameter:             0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Texture: Smooth,             glossy. No stipules present.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring through Summer. -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: Ten weeks. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Single, fully double,     facing outward at a 90° angle from peduncle. -   Rate of flower opening: 14 to 21 days from bud to fully opened     flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 2 weeks. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Flattened globular.         -   Length.—1.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green N144C, base darker near Green             143A. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 10.4 cm.         -   Depth.—Approximately 3.1 cm. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Quantity.—Approx. 100.         -   Arrangement.—Rotate, in 5 rows.         -   Length.—Approximately 3.3 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate, base fused.         -   Apex.—Subacute to obtuse.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and appearance, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             slightly velvety, dull.         -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Near RHS Green-White             157D, base Yellow-Green 150B. When opening, lower surface:             Near RHS Green-White 157D, base Yellow-Green 150C. Fully             opened, upper surface: Near RHS Green-White 157D, base             Yellow-Green 150B. Fully opened, lower surface: Near RHS             Green-White 157C, base Yellow-Green 150C. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Quantity.—Approx. 4, in center of flwoer.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.         -   Width.—0.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Cylindric.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and appearance, upper and lower surfaces.—Shiny.         -   Color.—When opening, all surfaces: Near RHS Green-Yellow 1B.             Fully opened, all surfaces: Near RHS Green-Yellow 1B. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Quantity.—7.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.7 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Shape (overall).—Ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Subacute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137B. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—Average 10.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glossy.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.         -   Strength.—Strong. -   Fragrance: Very faint.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Average of 4 minute disc florets in the centre of             the inflorescence with an average of 4 deformed stamen per             disc floret. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 14A.         -   Pollen.—None observed. -   Pistil: No pistil present.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     pathogens and pests common to Dahlia have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures     between 10 to 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘LOMDAHBAW’ as herein illustrated and described. 